Jobs & Careers with Piers Linney - 147

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DENTISTRY

Dentist
As a dentist you are qualified and
experienced to treat patients in all areas
of tooth and gum health. Most dentists
(after graduating) work as general dental
practitioners (GDPs), usually in a highstreet practice, providing dental care
to the general public. GDPs can, to some
extent, choose where they work and
determine their own working hours.
GDPs may practise either under the
NHS or privately, but most do both. You
can also specialise, such as going into
community dentistry (looking after
those with special needs, or the elderly
or disabled in their homes) or hospital
practice (highly specialised work that
covers oral surgery, restorative dentistry,
paediatric dentistry and orthodontics).

What to study:
* Becoming a dentist involves at least five
years' study at dental school, followed by
one or two years of supervised practice.
There is intense competition for places at
dental schools. Most entrants will require
three As at A-level, although one-year
'pre-dental' courses are offered by some
dental schools, which will broaden access
to other students.
* If you don't already have some dental
or more general health experience,
try to organise a work placement so you
can experience the job first-hand.
Contact local dental surgeries or the
personnel department at your local
Primary Care Trust (which co-ordinates
community dental services) to find out
what is available in your area.

Dental Hygienists

Dental Nurses
This works involves assisting the dentist,
handing them tools during treatment,
typing up their notes, and generally keeping
them organised and the surgery hygienic.

What to study:
* To work as a dental nurse, you must have
successfully completed a course approved
by the General Dental Council and then be
registered with that body. One way to gain
these qualifications is to do a GDCapproved course at university, but the more
common route is to secure a position as a
trainee nurse in a local dental practice.
* Employers will normally look for
GCSEs in core subjects, plus a friendly,
responsible attitude and positive
approach to people. Then you can study
part-time for a level-3 NVQ, VRQ or QCF
Diploma in dental nursing, or alternatively,
the National Diploma in Dental Nursing
awarded by the National Examining Board
for Dental Nurses (NEBDN).
* These courses are run by certain dental
hospitals, further education colleges and
a number of other training providers, and
some NHS Trusts offer apprenticeships.

Case study
Words: Lynne Maxwell. Images: Getty Images, Shutterstock.

'I enjoy the autonomy of my dentist role, and working as a team'
Sean Walmsley, is a dentist at Oasis Dental Care in Newark (www.oasisdentalcare.co.uk)
'At school, I was interested in medicine, but I always knew I wanted to
be a dentist, not a doctor. Working with my hands appealed to me, as
did providing patient care. Getting work experience while you're at school
is really important and I was fortunate enough to be able to organise this
through my uncle, who is a dentist.
'Anyone thinking of applying to university to study dentistry should
arrange this with their own dentist. Observing how the dentist works with the patient, and
understanding the roles of the hygienist and nurse will help your university application.
'I enjoy the variety of my work and gain immense satisfaction from the patient care that
I provide. I like the autonomy of my role as a dentist, but I also enjoy the clinical working
relationship I have with my dental nurse and hygienist - we work as a team.'

These are the people who keep your
teeth and gums in tip-top condition.
As a dental hygienist (sometimes called
an oral-health practitioner) you would
carry out procedures such as scaling and
polishing teeth, and applying topical
fluoride and fissure sealants. If you are
based in a hospital, you would also help
patients who are having surgery or
complicated orthodontic treatment or
those with particular medical conditions
to maintain a healthy mouth.

What to study:
* You will need a recognised Diploma in
Dental Hygiene to be a qualified dental
hygienist. Minimum requirements for
courses are five GCSEs or equivalent
(including biology and English), plus at
least two A-levels or a recognised Dental
Nursing qualification. The full-time course
lasts around two years and is offered by
dental schools and also the Defence
Dental Services Training Establishment.

Dental Technicians
Dental technicians (or dental
technologists as they are often referred
to) make the dentures, crowns, bridges
and dental braces that improve patients'
appearance, speech and their ability
to chew. Working to dentists' or doctors'
prescriptions, technicians/technologists
use a wide range of materials, including
gold, porcelain, stainless steel and plastic,
to design and construct appliances to
meet each patient's specific needs.

What to study:
* To work as a dental technician, you must
have successfully completed a course
that has been approved by the GDC
so that you can register with them.
Recognised courses lead to qualifications
such as the BTEC National Diploma in
Dental Technology (for entry you will
normally need at least four GCSEs at
grade C or above, or the equivalent), a
foundation degree (in which case you'll
normally need to be employed in a trainee
dental technician role) or a university BSc
(Hons) degree in Dental Technology.
* You can take the BTEC National Diploma
or foundation degree course on a full-time
basis; part-time, if working as a trainee.

J O B S & C A R E E R S /// 1 4 7

http://www.oasisdentalcare.co.uk

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